Evidence on the safety of extracorporeal shockwave therapy for calcific tendinopathy in the shoulder shows no major safety concerns in the short term. Evidence on efficacy is inadequate. Therefore, this procedure should only be used in the context of research. Find out what only in research means on the NICE interventional procedures guidance page.
Further research should include randomised controlled trials comparing the procedure with current best practice. It should report details of patient selection, including site and density of calcification, duration of symptoms, and other treatments used at the same time. It should also report details of the technique, including dose and number of treatments, and long-term safety outcomes.